Cacti IDing HELP!

Cacti IDing HELP!

Tue Apr 07, 2009 12:09 am

Hi guys and gals, I've got 3 cacti that I've adopted but have no idea what kind they are or what to do for them. I'm sure they need to be repotted soon (the tall one is no longer supporting itself and the spiny one's pretty crowded). I have bad luck with plants and seem to have 2 brown thumbs. Any help you can give would be GREATLY appreciated.[/img]

thanks!

Tue Apr 07, 2009 4:39 pm

Judging by the pictures you sent, Kisal, it looks like I have a E. lactea. Yay! I'll have to do some more research on the Haworthia to determine the exact type. Maybe once I repot and thin it out a bit it will be easier to ID.

I've included some more pictures of the third mystery plant. The leaves (?branches? not sure what they're called when in reference to a cactus) start out triangular then flatten out, with clumps of spines/quills? more concentrated at the base.

Wow!

Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:28 pm

Thanks a bunch guys! I can't wait to see it flower! Looks gorgeous Now... how do I take care of these things?I've started cuttings of the Euphorbia (I have to let it dry for 48 hours, right?) and am looking for new pots for the Haworthia. Would regular cactus soil work for all of them? How often do I need to fertilize and water them? What kind of fertilizer do I need? I have really bad luck with plants. I'm hoping I can make these last. Thanks again!

You have chosen three easy to care for, low maintenance, low fertilizer, low water kind of plants, so don't break into a sweat...

The hatrack euphorbia you cant kill. Add some stone to the bottom of the pot as it will want to get tall (like 4 times the height you have now) Cuttings was a good idea too... A much bigger pot in its immediate future I think...A little richer than straight cactus soil, but lots of sun. Will trunk up like a tree after years...

Bump the size up on the Haworthia slowly, but richer soil and a little more shade than most cactii. Best repotted yearly...skip fertilizing, water sparingly but regularly...

As for the orchid cactus, plenty of water in summer, next to nothing in winter. Feed a little as buds set, and a little after...Medium light like the Haworthia

I just use commercial cactus mix, but I only have 10 cacti at the moment. I just use a commercial fertilizer, too. (SchultzÃ¢â€žÂ¢) I feed them once in late Feb., and again in early April.

During the winter, I water about once a month. I deep soak them, i.e. put them in a bucket, fill it with lukewarm water up to the rim of the pots, and let them soak for an hour. Then I remove them from the water and let them drain well. If I'm fertilizing them, I do it after all the excess water has drained out.

During the summer, I water about every 7 to 10 days. I alternate the way I water, watering from the top one time, then using the deep soak method the next time. I add fertilizer half strength each time I water from the top.

I should add that all of my cacti are in unglazed terra cotta pots. If you use glazed or plastic pots, then you will probably need to water less often.

Oh you SO don't know me. I've already killed a 6ft cactus that may have been the same species. It rotted from the bottom up. Now that I know about cuttings I may have been able to save some of it... but don't underestimate my brown thumb Thanks for all the advice. I'll have to update you on my progress.